Typewriting machine



Sept. 8, 1931. A. G. F. KUROWSKI TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1928lnvenfor:

2 M I I Afforne 43 The object of the invention is to provide PatentedSept. 8, 1931,

mm STATES P T NT o e-r ce ALFRED G. F. KURoWsKLo BROOKLYN, New YORK,AssI'GNon To u' nERwooD ELLIOTT COMPANY, 01? NEW YORK, N. Y., Acon'roRA'rIoN OF DELAWARE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Application filed October20, 1928. Serial No. 313,688.

This invention relates to typewriting ma- -chines, which are providedwith tabulating mechanism serviceable for billing work. Such mechanismincludes, as in the standard ,v Underwood machine, a row of decimal andU other tabulating keys arranged in front of where special billing workrequires frequent use of a certain tabulating, key, and are known topreferably include a palmkey, which, through a train of members, may beoperatively connected and selectively ad.- justed to any one of saidtabulating keys. To 3 locate and manipulate a certain handy palmkeyinstead of one of the small decimal-keys is convenient, and thereforetime and labor saving, while also precluding possible faulty tabulationon the part of the operator.

an improved attachment which is durable, compact, simple, and easilyaccessible for mounting and adjusting the same, a mechanism of moreeffective action and which may 3 be attached to standard machineswithout constructive change thereof.

A mechanism of the preferred class, as heretofore proposed and shownin'the patent to Kurowski No. 1,668,915, will not meet the g3requirements, especially of easy mounting and accessibility, themechanism being hidden away within the machine=frame and crowded inbetween two superposed layers or rows of key-levers. It may be mounted:13 and set for a certain establishment, from the bottom only-afterlifting up the whole of the machine, or even turning the same upsidedown.

Such practice becomes particularly objectionable when, as is the case ina particular embodiment of the invention, the Underwood typewritingmachine is, in a wellknown manner, permanently combined with a computingmachine which forms the lower bulk-y part or base of an arrangementknown as a bookkeeping machine. Under such conditions the mechanism insaid patentjcould not be mounted or adjusted without dis- .mountlng thewhole machine fromits base and eventually requiring thea's'sistance ofan expert mechanic, and moreover is liable to interfere with thestructure of the computing machine.-

To overcome these difficulties, afeature of the invention providesactuating mechanism, which, in the form of a compact unit, may bemounted upon the machine=frame structure in a manner to be freelyaccessible.

Another feature provides means fol manipulating :a key=selector from theoutside when adjusting the same to a selected tabulating key.Constructive features of the novel design will disclose the advantagesas mentioned above: Supporting structure extends forwardly from thefront of the machine to carry a rock-shaft which extends across themachineunderneath and adjacent the front ends of the tabulatingkey-levers. Settab'le means upon said shaft, which enable the mechanismto be selectively connected to any one of the tabulating keys, are nowfreely accessible from the front. They may include a crankarm rangingbackwardly toward the keylevers, and a hook-member to engage over thefront portion of a tabulating key-lever. To aid in adjustingthecrank-arm there may be provided milled face extending from end to end ofthe shaft, along which the crankarm is slidable and upon which it may beAn amply-sized It will thus be seen that the construction is compact,durable and accessible. The space available in front of the machineallows highly stressed parts to be built as strong as practicable, whileoperating leverages are kept reasonably small, thus minimizing thedanger of deformation of parts, the general operation of'the machine inno way being interfered with. The construction furthermore is cheap andsimple, comprising parts made from flat or other stockanaterial.

Other features and advantages will here inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a row of decimal-tabulating keysin relation to adjacent parts of a combined typewriting and computingmachine and the improved key-actuating mechanism, mounted thereon ininoperative position.

Figure 2 is an operative view taken from Figure 1, and indicating apalm-piece as being depressed to actuate a certain selected tabulatingkey.

Figure 3 is a detail view, showing a con venient method of connectingand disconnecting a tabuating key to and from the novel key-actuatingmechanism.

The preferred embodiment of the invention applies to an Underwoodbookkeeping machine which includes a standard type-- writer indicated bythe front part of its frame 10, by standard space-bar l1 and keys 12(dot and dash), and furthermore includes a wellknown computing machine.The typewriting machine is mounted upon the computing machine, whichlatter is actuated by the depressions of the numeral-keys of thetypewriter. The external structure or housing 13 of the computingmachine forms the base of the typewriting machine and has lateralportions 14 embracing the lower part of the typewriter-frame. The frontpart of said housing is represented by a cover or shield-plate 15fastened by screws 16 upon said housing 13, and opening 17 in the coverbeing shown to expose one of the usual computing heads or registers ofthe machine, (not shown.) A well-known tabulating mechanism provided inthe typewriting machine is indicated only by a row of tabulatingkcybuttons 18 which form the terminals of keylevers 18 extending fromunderneath the 1nachine-frame forwardly into the reach of the operator.Said shield-plate 15 gives an opportunity to guide the tabulatingkeylevers in their downward movement by slots 19, and takes the place ofa special combplate ordinarily used on typewriters with tabulatingmechanism. It furthermore permits an improved key-actuating mechanism tobe conveniently mounted thereon. This novel mechanism includes adepressible palmpiece 20 and is operatively connectible to any of thetabulating keys, whichever may be selected, for purposes of convenience,as described above.

The mechanism includes a rock-shaft 21 journaled at one end in a plainbracket 22 and at the other end in a special bracket 23, both bracketssecured upon the shield-plate 15. constructively, the special b 'acket23, at the lefthand side of the machine, represents particular features.It is integrally made out of flat material and is formed with a.body-portion 2 1 fastened by screws 25 upon the shield-plate 15. Fromthe body-portion 24 extend forwardly two bent-over bearingportions 26 toreceive therein the rock-shaft 21, and forming a U-shapedbearing'structure which is apt to embrace rocking elements including acrank-arm 27 mounted upon the rock-shaft and carrying a cam-roller 28,and

. to house a spring 29 coiled around the rock shaft and normallyeffective to urge the rockshaft to inoperative position while tensionedbetween the bracket 23 and the crank-arm 27. The body portion of thebracket 23 has an upward extension 30 formed with lateral bent-overguiding portions 31 to receive vertically slidable therein a stem 32upon which is rigidly fastened, as by rivets 33, said palinpiece 20. Thelower end of the stem is formed with an angular port-ion 3 1- to presenta camface co-operativewithsaidcam-roller28. The up-and-d nvn operatingmovement of the paln'i-piece may be determined by a screwandslotconnection, as provided at 34$,between the stem 32 and bracket 23respectively. Depression of the palm-piece, when violently exerted, willthen be securely taken up without detrimentally affecting the tabulatingmechanism, while the blow is to be intercepted by the rigidmachine-frame. Operation of the palm-piece will rock the shaft againstspringtension and will cause a crank-arm 35 to actir ate a selectedtabulating key, for instance 36, to which it may be connected by meansof a hook 37. The crank-aii'm 35 extends rearwardly from the shaft andcarries at its free end, pivoted thereon by a shoulder-screw 35, saidhook 37. The crank-arm 35 is laterally settable along the shaft so as tobe selectively connectible to any of the tabulating keys. at

'which point it should be noted that the ro ckshaft is provided from endto end with a milled face 37. which allows the crank-arm 35 to beslidable thereon, besides offering other advantages, for the crank-armis cheaply made from flat material and formed with a. bent-over car 38which flatly engages upon said milled face to stabilize the crank-arm inits various shift positions, to aid in adjustment. A fixing screw 39 maybe passed through said car 38 and conveniently threaded into therock-shaft to it-t the crank arm in place. A series of threaded holes 40mar be easily provided in said milled face, spaced in harmony with thetabulating keys, for

fixing the actuating crank-arm 35 at predeloo liiii lit) terminedplaces, and'so that the fixing screw 39 may be easily-accessiblefrom'the front.-

Figure 3 is to illustrate the method of at, taching the cranlearm to'a'tabulating key, whereby the fixing screw is first loosened and then theassociated tabulating key depressed to release the hook 37 from thekey-:lever 18*. lhe crank-arm, now beingfree for lateral movement, mayhe slid for connection to an+ other tabulating key, where the hook is tobe attached in thesame manner andthe crankarm secured in place by simplyplacing the screw in the established threaded hole. The firstrmentionedcrank=arm 27, which carries the cam-roller 28, is fastened upon therockshaft in the same simpleand effective manner. To prevent therock-shaft from undue lateral displacement, there are provided collars41, which may be easily fixed in position by means of set-screws 42engaging upon the established milled face 37 upon the rockshaft.

At 43 and 44, respectively, are shown the so-called subtraction-key andthe creditbalance key which are found on standard computing machines,and shown, for instance, in Patent No. 1,452,162 to Kupetz. It is clearthat the novel key-actuating mechanism does not interfere with theoperation of these standard computing keys.

From the above, it is readily seen that the improved mechanism forms adesirable manufacturing unit which may be conven iently attached tostandard machines and set from the outside.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewr-iting machine having decimal tabulating mechanism, thecombination with a row of dep-ress-ible tabulating keys adjacent thefront of the machine-frame, including key-levers, of an auxiliarymechanism for selectively actuating one of the tabulating keys when its;continued use for special work is required, said auxiliary mech anismincluding a rock-shaft extending transversely of the machine, outside ofthe machine-frame, and adjacent the front ends of saidtabulating-key-levers, means for sup porting the shaft upon themachine-frame, inea-ns i-noludfing a palm-piece for rocking the shaft,and means laterally settable upon shaft and effective to actuate aselected tabulatijng key when the shaft is rocked, said settable meansbeing supported in a manner to be manipulated from, the outside.

2; In a typewriting machine having decimal tabul'ating mechanism, thecombination with a row of tabulating keys arranged in front of themachine-frame, of anauxiliary mechanism operable for selectivelyactuating one of the tabulati'ng. keys when its continued usefor specialwork is required, said auxiliary mechanism including a rock-shaftextending transversely of the machine, adjacent the tabulatingkeys,supporting structure extending forwardly from the front of themachine-frame for supporting the shaft, 1 means including a palm-piecefor rocking the shaft, and means laterally settable upon said shaft, andranging backwardly, towards the keys, and effective to actuate aselected tabulating key when said shaft is rocked, said settable meansmanipulated from the front.

3. In a typewriting machine having decimal tabulating mechanism, thecombination witha row of tabulating keys at the front of themachinesframe, of an auxiliary mechanism operable for actuating acertain se lected tabulating key when, its continued use for specialwork is required, said auxiliary mechanism including a rock-shafthavinga flat face, cxtendng from end to end thereof, said shaft extendingtransversely of the machine, adjacent the tabulating keys, means forsupporting said shaft upon the machine, means including a palm-piece forrocking the shaft, means settable upon said shaft, to be operativelyconnected to a seleoted tabulating key, and including a crankarm of fiatmaterial having a bent-over car a to engage upon said flatfaoe, to beslidable thereon, so as to aid in adjustment of the settable parts, andmeans for securing said crank-arm in adjusted position.

4. In a typewriting machine having decimal tabulating mechanism, thecombination with 'a row of tabulating: keys. at the front of themachine-frame, of an auxiliary mechanism operable for actuating acertain selected tabulating key when its continued use for special workis required, said auxiliary mechanism includinga rock-shaft having aflat face, extending from end to end thereof, said shaft extendingtransversely of the machine, adjacent the tabulating keys, means forsupporting said shaft upon the machine, means including a palm-piece forrocking the shaft, means settabie upon said shaft, to be operativelyconnected to a selected tabulating key, and including-a c-ranknrm offlat material having a bent over ear to engage upon said flat face, tobe slid-able thereon, so as to aid in adjustment of the settable parts,and screw-means to secure said bentover ear upon said shaft when thecrankarm is in adjusted position, said screwaneans to be accessible fromthe front.

5. In a typcwri ting machine having decim-al tabulat-ing mechanism, thecombination with a row of tabulati n-g keys at the front of themachine-frame, ofjan auxiliary mechail-ism operable for actuating acertain selected tahulating key when iftscontinued use for specialworkis required, said auxiliary mechanism including a rock-shaftadjacent SIG the tabulating keys, means for supporting the shaft uponthe machine, means upon said shaft forselectively actuating thetabulating keys when rocking the shaft, means including a palm-piece forrocking the shaft, a stem to support said palm-piece, means for positively guiding said stem in up and down movement, and. a rigidstop-means to limit said movement when the palm depresses saidpalm-piece against spring pressure.

6. In a typewriting machine having decimal tabulating mechanism, thecombination with a row of tabulatin keys at the front of themachine-frame, of an auxiliary mech anism operable for actuating acertain selected tabulating key when its continued use for special workis required, said auxiliary mechanism including a rock-shaft adjacentthe tabulating keys, means for supporting the shaft upon the machine,means upon said shaft for selectively actuating the tabulating keys whenrocking the shaft, means includ ing a palm-piece for rocking the shaft,a stem to support said palm-piece, means for 1 P positively guiding saidstem in up and down movement, rigid stopuneans to limit said movementwhen the palm depresses said palm-piece against spring pressure, andcammechanism to transmit movement from the palm-piece to the rock-shaft,including a cam-face portion upon the lower end of said stem andco-operative cam-means provided upon one end of said rock-shaft.

7. In a typewriting machine having deci- 7 mal tabulating mechanism, thecombination with a row of tabulating keys at the front of themachine-frame, of an auxiliary mechanism operable for actuating acertain selected tabulating key when its continued use for special workis required, said auxiliary mechanism including a rock-shaft adjacentthe tabulating keys, means upon said shaft for selectively actuating thetabulating keys when rocking the shaft, means including a palm-piece forrocking the shaft, a stem of flat material to support said palm-piece,means for positively guiding said stem in up and down movement, rigidstop-means to limit said movement when the palm depresses saidpalm-piece against spring pressure, cammcans on one end of said shaft,and a bent over portion at the lower end of said stem, presenting acam-face to co-operate with said cam-means.

8. In a typewritiug machine having decimal tabulating mechanism, thecombination with a row of tabulating keys at the front of hemachine-frame, of an auxiliary mechanism operable for actuating acertain selccted tabulating key when its continued use for special workis required, said auxiliary mechanism including a rock-shaft adjacentthe tabulating keys, means upon said shaft for selectively actuating thetabulating keys when rocking the shaft, means including a palm-piece forrocking the shaft, a stem to support said palm-piece, a bracket mountedupon the machine, upon which to positively guide said stem in up anddown movement, stop-means to rigidly limit said movement upon saidbracket when the palm depresses the palmpiece against spring pressure,and cam-means between the lower end of said stem and the rock-shaft torock the latter while operating the palm-piece. 9. In a typewritingmachine having a decimal tabulating mechanism, the combination with arow of tabulating keys at the front of the machine-frame, of anauxiliary mechanism operable to actuating a certain selected tabulatingkey when its continued use for special work is required, said auxiliarymechanism including a rock-shaft adjacent the tabulating keys, meansupon said shaft for selectively actuating the tabulating keys whenrocking the shaft, means for rocking said shaft, including a pahn-pieceand cammeans between said palm-piece and said shaft, a cam-arm beingprovided at one end of the shaft, and. a U-shaped bracket to sup portone end of the shaft, and arranged to embrace said cam-means for sake ofcompactness.

10. In a typewriting machine having decimal tabulating mechanism, thecombination with a row of tabulating keys at the front of themachine-frame, of an auxiliary mechanism operable for actuating acertain selected tabulating key when its continued use for special workis required, said auxiliary mechanism including a rockshaft adjacent thetabulating keys, means upon said shaft for selectively actuating thetabulating key: when rocking the shaft, means for rocking said shaft,including a palm-piece and cammeans between said palmpiece and saidshaft,-a cam-arm being provided at one end of the shaft, a U-shapedbracket to support one end of the shaft, and arranged to embrace saidcam-means for sake of compactness, and spring-means also embraced bysaid U-shaped bracket and effective to return the rock-shaft toinoperative position after the palm-piece has been depressed.

11. In a typewriting machine having decimal tabulating mechanism, thecombination with a row of tabulating keys atthe front of themachine-frame, of an auxiliary mechanism operable for actuating acertain selected tabulating key when its continued use for special workis required, said auxiliary mechanism including a rock-shaft adjacentthe tabulating keys, means upon said shaft for selectively actuating thetabulating keys when rocking the shaft, means for rocking said shaft,including a palm-piece and cammeans between said pal1n-piece and saidshaft, a cam-arm being provided at one end of the shaft, a U-shapedbracket to support one end of the shaft, and arranged to embrace saidcam-means for sake of compact to inoperative position after the,palm-piece has been depressed.

12. In a typewriting machine having decimal tabulating mechanism, thecombination with a row of tabulating keys at the front of themachine-frame, of an auxiliary mechanism operable for actuating acertain selected tabulating key when its continued use for special workis required, said auxiliary mechanism including a rock-shaft adjacentthe tabulating keys, means upon said shaft for selectively actuating thetabulating keys when rocking said shaft, means for rocking said shaft,including a palm-piece and cammeans between said palm-piece and saidshaft, there being provided a cam-arm at one end of the shaft, and aU-shaped bracket to support the shaft at one end thereof, and arrangedto embrace said cam-arm, said U- shaped bracket having an upwardextension to receive thereon the depressible palm-piece, said palm-piecehaving a vertically-slidable stem, said stem effective to engage uponsaid cam-arm, to rock the shaft when the palmpiece is operated.

13. In a typewriting machine having a framing enclosing a keyboard, andalso having decimal tabulator-keys in front of the keyboard, thecombination of a bracket-device detachably secured to themachine-framing and including a vertical guide, a stem movable up anddown in said vertical guide, a palm-key surmounting said stem andoverhanging the typewriter-framing at the front of the keyboard, acam-face upon said stem, a rock-shaft extending along the keyboard andmounted in said bracket-device, a depressible cam-means upon saidrock-shaft to be engaged by said cam-face, an arm adjustable along saidrock-shaft to position to co-operate selectively with differenttabulator-keys, and means to connect said arm releasably to any of saidtabulator-keys.

14:. In a typewriter machine having a framing enclosing a keyboard, andalso having decimal tabulator-keys in front of the keyboard, thecombination of a bracket-device detachably secured to themachine-framing and including a vertical guide, a stem movable up anddown in said vertical guide,

a palm-key surmounting said stem and overhanging the typewriter-framingat the front of the keyboard, a cam-face upon said stem, a rock-shaftextending along the keyboard and mounted in said bracket-device, adepresof said tabulator-keys, and a spring for returning saidrock-shaft; said rock-shaft having threaded holes at intervalscorresponding to the spacing of said tabulator-keys, and said armprovided with a screw which can be threaded into any of said holes.

, ALFRED G. F. KUROWSKI.

sible cam-means upon said rock-shaft to be engaged by said cam-face, anarm adjustable along said rock-shaft to position to co-operateselectively with'different tabulator-keys, means to connect said armreleasably to any

